Tim Cahill

That would explain all his donations from outside Massachusetts, from real-estate brokers and lawyers who just want the best for Massachusetts.

Guess they don't want Cahill siphoning conservative votes from Baker; but did Baker's attack-dog campaign manager come up with the specific word?

Death to Romneycare, he says.

Red Mass. Group reports on the McCain staffers now working for Treasurer Tim.

Blue Mass. Group reports on how Baker campaign manager Lenny Alcivar finds the time to send snarky Twitter messages to Treasurer Tim's daughters.

Both Red Mass. Group and the Outraged Liberal agree: Tim Cahill lacks any substance in a Globe survey piece on dealing with the state's fiscal crisis.

MassBeacon.com has the point/counterpoint.

Some former state rep from Holliston who has conservatives all aswoon.

Good to know: If you outsource your campaign to lawyers, you can use attorney-client privilege to shield what you're up to from everybody, even the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Thanks, Treasurer Tim!

The Outraged Liberal wonders why Tim is wasting money on oppo research when he can just browse the Globe and Herald Web sites each morning.

First, don't drop your multi-page announcement speech on the floor. They have these things called Teleprompters, you know.

Second, don't repeat your critics' charges to rebut them. Remember when Nixon said he wasn't a crook? Right, everybody started thinking he was a crook. So when you bring up charges you "have no core convictions," guess what?

Tim for Governor.

Channel 5 reports he's becoming an independent as he gears up to run a campaign for governor that could possibly consist solely of whining.

Like not telling legislators about a $25-million hole in his budget.

Will Treasurer Tim agree to pay more for his own taxpayer-funded health coverage? You know, as a symbol of how concerned he is about state finances, or something?

In any case, looks like he's getting his wish.

Here are 2.3 million reasons why.

Deval Patrick likes his vacation days. But potential opponent Tim Cahill is like a well-oiled weathervane. The Outraged Liberal says if he has to choose next year, he'll take the well-rested incumbent:

... Conjure up all the stereotypes you want, but the decision by then-House Speaker Sal DiMasi to dispatch Ways and Means Chairman John Rogers and Quincy representative and Cahill friend Ron Mariano to chat with the treasurer has Hollywood overtones. ...

He releases Ethics Commission letter clearing him of allegations related to the state's dealings with a lottery-equipment vendor, which happened to pay a bunch of money to a Cahill fundraiser. Republicans had filed a complaint with the commission.

The Man Who Would Be Governor might first have to answer some pesky ethics questions.

Gladys Kravitz (yeah, yeah), lists them all.

Treasurer Tim could run for governor as an independent.

First, though, he might want to reconsider his idea of privatizing the lottery.

This is the guy who wants to replace Deval Patrick?

Since Cahill took over five years ago, administrative spending [on the Lottery] has ballooned by nearly 50 percent, with higher costs for advertising, telephones, computers, and lottery ticket printing, including outside contracts signed with some of the treasurer's campaign contributors.

Meanwhile, Sal DiMasi probably wishes that's all he had to worry about.

Treasurer Tim declares he won't be going to Washington.

He made his announcement right after Deval Patrick vowed, for roughly the 79,000th time, that he is not going to Washington.

Just like Sal.

Outraged Liberal analyzes:

At least Vitale appeared to be doing something to earn the money he was pulling in as a result of his relationship with Sal DiMasi. I'm hard pressed, after reading the Globe story, to see what, if anything Kelly did for his monthly three grand other than serve as Tim Cahill's neighbor, friend and fund-raiser.

Joe DiNucci must be awfully envious of Tim Cahill's front-pagery of late.

Seth Gitell reminds us he was one of the few reporters to take Cahill seriously back in 2002.

The Outraged Liberal writes it's easy for Cahill to say what he's against but that sooner or later, Cahill is going to have to start coming up with actual solutions to go with his carping (Ed. note: Because only us bloggers are allowed to kvetch round the clock):

... Cahill has been in office for six years -- and his job is to make sure the books balance. The Pike has been a problem throughout those years, but I don't seem to recall him speaking up as frequently or as loudly as he is now.

Why the absence of firm suggestions? He certainly has an interesting idea for the school building problem.

Could the answer be that he doesn't want to take the heat for the remedy? ...

Third Decade doesn't get why the state plans to rescue the turnpike authority from its crushing debt while refusing to rescue the MBTA from its crushing debt.

The Outraged Liberal asks questions, too:

... Did Cahill -- or Sen. Mark Montigny offer reform suggestions? And how can they be implemented in an agency that operates somewhat independently with a board appointed on staggered terms so that it is not supposed to be in the thrall of one governor. ...